Found a really cool rock at the beach - can I use it in my freshwater aquarium?

[First_aquarium]

Hi, I just set up my first ever tank a week ago, am currently cycling it.
Went to the beach recently and found a really nice rock that I would like to use if possible. I heard that there are members here that can identify if it will leech anything bad into the water.

I did the vinegar test, it didn't fizzle, and of course I'd boil it first as well.

Please see a photo of the rock attached.

Thank you!

 

[Andy Sager]

Hi, I just set up my first ever tank a week ago, am currently cycling it.
Went to the beach recently and found a really nice rock that I would like to use if possible. I heard that there are members here that can identify if it will leech anything bad into the water.

I did the vinegar test, it didn't fizzle, and of course I'd boil it first as well.

Please see a photo of the rock attached.

Thank you!

I wouldn't use this piece because it appears to be a number of smaller rocks held together by a substance ( most likely but not definitely tar) and if so, can leech whatever is in the tar. The acid test is basically for single items to confirm a calcium base or not and not really accurate for items of multiple ingredients.

 

[First_aquarium]

I wouldn't use this piece because it appears to be a number of smaller rocks held together by a substance ( most likely but not definitely tar) and if so, can leech whatever is in the tar. The acid test is basically for single items to confirm a calcium base or not and not really accurate for items of multiple ingredients.

Thank you, I thought as much but wanted to confirm! It shall stay a nice paperweight on my desk instead ?

 

[Andy Sager]

Thank you, I thought as much but wanted to confirm! It shall stay a nice paperweight on my desk instead ?

Nice piece tho.
The beach is a very hard place to collect things from. You really don't know what the items went through. Maybe it was in an oil spill? Maybe a sewage leak? Who knows. I usually use things from the beach in a shadow box behind the aquarium. You can make interesting aquatic scenes for when you look through the tank without effecting anything in the tank. ( In some cases, shadow boxes can actually make the fish themselves feel more secure when you incorporate appropriate items inside the tank as well that match the shadowbox theme. )

 

[First_aquarium]

Nice piece tho.
The beach is a very hard place to collect things from. You really don't know what the items went through. Maybe it was in an oil spill? Maybe a sewage leak? Who knows. I usually use things from the beach in a shadow box behind the aquarium. You can make interesting aquatic scenes for when you look through the tank without effecting anything in the tank. ( In some cases, shadow boxes can actually make the fish themselves feel more secure when you incorporate appropriate items inside the tank as well that match the shadowbox theme. )

Ah that's a nice idea with the shadowbox, I'll look into it thank you ?

 

[Andy Sager]

Ah that's a nice idea with the shadowbox, I'll look into it thank you ?